This Kind of Book Tour Can Be Hazardous to Your Health

I had lunch with a friend on Friday, a successful author of 6 novels and many nonfiction books as well, all published by mainstream publishers.

I hadn’t seen my friend for many months. On Friday I found out why.

With the publication of her 5th and 6th novels, almost two years ago, her publisher sent her on a two-month book tour. A different city nearly every day! She stopped at major bookstores for book signings. On top of that, she wove in some speaking engagements that she’d already set up.

I remember speaking to her toward the end of that tour, en route to yet another speaking engagement. She did not sound good.

Then, I didn’t hear from her for a long, long time. She didn’t return phone calls or emails.

I finally found out why, on Friday.

My friend had hit the wall, even before the book tour finally ended. In her words: “I just … couldn’t do anything.” For two or three months.

Fortunately, she had a get-away place where she could go. She drove up to the cabin and just … did nothing.

Literally. “I barely ate. Some days I never got out of bed.”

She came out of it slowly, over a period of months. I wasn’t the only one whose phone calls she didn’t return. She talked to almost nobody during that time.

My friend’s story shook me up. She’s one of the last people I would expect to have a breakdown. She too didn’t think it could happen to her. “You think it could never happen to you and then … it does,” she said.

The thing is, now that she’s finally talking about and writing about it, people–mostly women–are coming out and admitting it has happened to them, too.

I didn’t have the heart to ask her whether the book signings were worth it, not after she mentioned the word “abysmal” in relation to one of them.

Folks, this is what I call “old era publishing.” The old way is to go on a book tour (if you were “lucky” enough and “big” enough as an author to have your publisher send you on one), city to city, signing books at bookstores that may or may not have publicized the event well. Even Al Gore was lucky to sell 40 books at a book signing (when he was still vice president).

Few authors relish physical book tours, even if they’re outgoing. For the author who’s an Introvert and needs time alone to reflect and recoup, it can be hellish. Or at least, totally exhausting.

Folks, there is a better way!

For instance, a week ago I did a Virtual Book Tour with an author who answered questions from the comfort of his own home, in his pajamas!

The best part is, he can continue to use that VBT to promote his book in any number of ways. (Find out more about how here.)

“New era publishing” takes advantage of the various ways we can now use technology to produce, publish, and market books better, faster, and with less human effort than anyone could have dreamed a couple of decades ago. (Remember what Michael Cader said about the Internet?)

You’ll be hearing more about this from me. Much more. Stay tuned!